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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#36: Dear Diary

"April 4th, 1984." So begins Winston Smith's first diary entry in the George Orwell novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Of course, this dystopian tale isn't the only one to involve diary entries. Bridget Jones's Diary, Gilead, The Yellow Wallpaper, Dracula, and I Capture the Castle are among a long list of other books told at least in part through diaries or journals.

This week's writing prompts challenge you to write a short story in the epistolary format.

P.S — On April 3rd we're hosting another LIVE Write-In on YouTube at 4pm EST! We'll guide you through a series of 20-minute writing sprints to give you the boost you need to stay productive. During the breaks, you can share your progress, talk about your struggles, and ask our hosts any questions you may have.

Join us on YouTube HERE at 4pm EST. We hope to see you there!

This week's prompts

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's just decided to take up journaling.

Adults – 117 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone on a long-awaited trip.

Holiday – 56 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's just experienced a big "first."

High School – 94 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who's up late at night because they're having trouble sleeping.

High School – 237 stories

In the form of diary/ journal entries, write a story that provides glimpses into a person's life at different ages.

Character – 135 stories

Stories

“An Insomniac's Speech” by Maria Makeever

Submitted to Contest #36

August 284 a.m.I have a dream. I have a dream that one day I will have a dream. That one day these bed sheets will rise up and live out the true meaning of their creed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all sleeps are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the hills where sheep jump and are counted and insomniacs toss and tumble, they will sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even my bed, a bed sweltering with the heat of injustice, the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an...

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“My Midnight Half” by Valentina Gandía

Submitted to Contest #36

Friday, September 18, 1992 It is midnight and no surprise I can't sleep. I have so many things going on in my head that I can't just relax. I feel a heavy weight that keeps me knocking me down, I wish it could go away and that's why I get help. It's been over 5 months since I started writing in this journal but I haven't seen any progress. It's practically me writing the same thing over and over again, every night. I still can't understand my therapist's point of this. She says “Jonathan, expressing your feelings in your journal ...

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“Another Sleepless Night.” by Shreyans Kanswa

Submitted to Contest #36

It has been a tiring day. It's funny how I get tired when I have nothing to do. I tried to sleep in the afternoon but I couldn't. It was fine until a few days before, but now I am starting to get worried. I haven't slept in the last 2-3 days. I didn't think that it was possible, but it is true. It is almost 3 am and I can sense the silence around. I know that the fan above my bed is trying hard to drag me into sleep. It has been a testing time. I still remember back in the days I used to not sleep by choice and now I am here. It's not so bad...

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“Sleepless Nights” by Kartik Swain

Submitted to Contest #36

April 6 Monday, As you know dairy, I do have trouble sleeping at night. I don't really know why though. Sometimes I feel like I am being watched and the other times I feel like I hear my name whispered by someone I know... But, from what I remember, that person went missing a couple of years ago. He was my far relative (probably my grandpa's uncle's uncle. I don't even know it for sure). Well, the time right now is 12:01. I am not scared of any horror movies and stuff like that. So, when it's 12 midnight I am all brave. But, as I stated...

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“Thinker's Block” by Walter Wright

Submitted to Contest #36

It was like any other spring night time. A collage of purple and blue hung above while the silent air flooded the cool streets below. Whether it was Tuesday, Wednesday, or even a Saturday night, it did not matter to Neville. This night frighteningly began to feel like any other possible night in the hurricane of his mind. Laying on the hard wooden floor of his bedroom, Neville sprawled with a pen in his left and a revoltingly beaten spiral notebook in his right.April 9th, 2022I can already tell it once again. I know it I just do. This h...

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“Future Imperfect” by Jim Murray

Submitted to Contest #36

Future Imperfect Ballygilhooley Workhouse Dec 28th 1848 A.D. Warden’s Report Future Imperfect Ballygilhooley Workhouse Dec 28th 1848 A.D. Warden’s Report ‘Tis a grim Christmastime that’s in it. At least, one positive weather vane on the horizon means that we may be on the cusp of finally dispensing with the case of one Larry Muldoon, who has caused great agitation and disturbance in the workhouse, as a result of his ‘strange dreams’. The saga began last July when the afore...

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“A little girl searching” by Dawnie R.N

Submitted to Contest #36

March 18, 2010 I have finally decided to start a journal. I know most of my other friends have one and I didn’t want to be like all the other girls but I finally succumb. I am going crazy with all these thoughts running in my mind. I have no one to talk to, not my parents, not my siblings. So, you are it. My little black book. Let me start by telling you about the story of a little girl. She is timid and very naïve. She is scared to speak her mind but she is k...

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“Life After Death” by Kaloyan Tsvetkov

Submitted to Contest #36

June 4th, 2012 Hello! My name is Alexander, but everyone calls me Alex. Today I turned 10 and you are my gift haha! My friend Jessica said that she writes things she is feeling and said that it will be funny in the future. She got you so that I can laugh at myself when I am 50. I decided to name you Secret because it sounds cool and no one knows I am writing in you. Except Jessica, but that is ok, I like Jessica. I might ask her to be my girlfriend because she is the only person I talk to. Anyway, I want some more cake! ...

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“Greater things” by Marissa JAEGER

Submitted to Contest #36

(Trigger warning: abuse, assault, suicide) Dear diary, It's my birthday today! I'm turning fourteen years old, and I just started high school this year. Mom said she was going to take me out for ice-cream but when I tried to wake her up this morning she said she had a headache. I should have known she wasn't going to get out of bed. She's like that sometimes, I wish I knew why she gets so sad. I tried to make her some food and tea like grandma does for me when I don't feel well, but she yelled at me to leave her alone. Oh, I hav...

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“A PERSONAL MEMOIR” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #36

A PERSONAL MEMOIRHow did I become a diarist? I guess it was in my genes! My grandfather had been in British colonial service, and we had a whole cupboard of diaries he had filled. After his time, I still remember my granny urging my dad who held them to destroy the diaries which he did. What they contained and why they had to be destroyed I will never know! An attractive new diary came to me at the start of a new year, and instinct made me take up maintaining it!I will begin with an unusual entry in my diary in a July when I was 27: ‘I...

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“Dear Diary” by Rody White

Submitted to Contest #36

thursday 12 june, 1983, killibegs, donegal. ireland.my dyri. I go beesh wit nan. i pelay sand. sand is gud. i lyk sand. mammy wash moovy. I see moovy to. I pelay sand tomoro.tuesday 14 febuary, 1986, port na fad, westmeath. irelanddear dairy. i am sad. today freddy dyed. mammy says it is not my fawlt but I no I killt him. I bringged freddy in bed wit me in the nite time beecos I thot he was cold, all alown in his fish bole. I rappt him up in my g i joes cote and put him on the pillo beside me. I do not want him to dye. Now he is gon. mammy t...

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“Diary of a Long-Lasting Love” by Paige Owen

Submitted to Contest #36

2010Dear Diary, Why is this so hard? I mean, I’ve always loved writing-don’t get me wrong. I’ve loved it ever since I received the first gold star in a sea of red ink. Typically, I just add in some Miriam Webster vocab words to a weak plot and-BOOM!-an easy A. But writing about my feelings? It’s a bottomless chasm of confusion and empty-mindedness. Ugh. I can’t even come up with something better than a hyphenated, flimsy excuse of a word. Stupid Kyle Cardin. You see, this all started with the note I found in my locker after second period. Th...

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“Growing Up in Love” by Adrienne Sharp

Submitted to Contest #36

Growing Up in LoveJune 15th 1966I’m so excited about being able to go to my first dance. Grade 7 and I haven’t even kissed anyone yet. Living out in the country is so boooring! The most exciting thing I get to do is pretend to drive to Toronto with my sister in the Volkswagen Bug that’s up on blocks on the grass beside our long laneway. Yeah OK it’s a square dance, lame I know but John will be there. He is so cool with his shiny black hair brushing the collar of his wide lapelled polka dot shirt. I get all tongue tied w...

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“My diary ” by Vakula Surendar

Submitted to Contest #36

"The most frightening monsters are the ones in our own minds."-popular quote.June 4, 2000my name is jack. i am 8 years old. mommy bought me this diary. I will write in it.June 5, 2000today i hit violet who is my sister. mommy was very angry. i dont like violet because she is very irritating. mommy says i still cant hit her and that doesnt make any sense. mommy gave me a timeout. I dont like mommy.July 7, 2001violet is a very bad girl. today she came into my room. i began to punch her face. she was crying and it was so funny. i told her dont ...

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“Wild At Heart” by Jane Andrews

Submitted to Contest #36

Haworth, November 24th 1824Tomorrow I am to start a big adventure and join my sisters, Maria, Elizabeth and Charlotte at the big girls’ school at Cowan Bridge. I am a little fearful at this prospect – not because I think I will be regarded as stupid (I can read and write and do arithmetic, and I already know ‘être’ and ‘avoir’, thanks to my aunt’s tutelage) - but I am afraid of missing Branwell and Anne, my playfellows. I have asked Papa if I might not remain at home and share Branwell’s lessons, but he is resolute. I intend to keep a r...

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$50

Prize money

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Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 10, 2020 EST

Won by Zilla Babbitt 🏆

Title: Kiss of the Snake

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

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